Hundreds of pensioners were converging on the Houses of Parliament today calling for better rights for old people.

Pensioners from across the country were to lobby MPs to support a Pensioners' Charter, demanding better pensions, health care and housing. It has been organised by the National Pensioners Convention, and there were also to be protests outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and Welsh Assembly in Cardiff.

The Charter calls for the basic state pension to be raised to £123 a week and be paid to all pensioners to help the 2.2 million who live below the official poverty level.

Joe Harris, NPC general secretary, said: "Pensioners want to be treated like respected members of our society rather than second-class citizens."